Method for blocking calcium channels

Abstract

The partial or total blocking of low threshold calcium channels in cell membranes with the use of aliphatic alcohols.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for partially or totally blocking low-threshold calcium channels in cell membranes of a mammal in need of such treatment comprising administering to said mammal an aliphatic alcohol selected from the group consisting of C 2  -C 10  alkyl alcohols and mixtures thereof in an amount sufficient to generate in the vicinity of said cells a concentration of said alcohol sufficient to partially or totally block low-threshold calcium channels in said cells and insufficient to have a noticeable effect on the high-threshold calcium conductance of said cells. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein said alcohol is octyl alcohol. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein said cells are neuron cells. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein said neuron cells are inferior olivary cells. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 comprising administering to the mammal a composition comprising said low-threshold-calcium conductance blocking effective amount of said alcohol and a physiologically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 5 comprising administering said alcohol parenterally. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 5 comprising administering said alcohol orally. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 5 wherein said composition comprises a diluent selected from the group consisting of Ringer's solution, and isotonic saline solution. 
     
     
       9. A method for inhibiting the manifestation of tremor in a mammal in need of such treatment, the method comprising: administering to said mammal a tremor-inhibiting effective amount of a low-threshold calcium conductance blocking agent selected from the group consisting of C 2  -C 10  alkyl alcohols and mixtures thereof said amount being insufficient to produce a noticeable effect on the high-threshold calcium conductance of cells of said mammal.   
     
     
       10. A method for inhibiting the manifestation of tremor in a mammal in need of such treatment comprising: administering to said mammal an aliphatic alcohol selected from the group consisting of C 2  -C 10  alkyl alcohols and mixtures thereof in an amount effective to partially or totally impede the transmission of a tremor-generating electrical signal from the central nervous system of said mammal to the muscle cells of said mammal that would otherwise exhibit said tremor said amount being insufficient to interfere noticeably with the high-threshold calcium conductance in either the central nervous system cells or the muscle cells of said mammal.   
     
     
       11. A method for inhibiting the manifestation of tremor in a mammal in need of such treatment comprising selectively partially or totally blocking the low threshold calcium channel of the central nervous system cells of said mammal possessing said low-threshold calcium channel by administering to said mammal an amount of an alcohol selected from the group consisting of C 3  -C 10  alkyl alcohols and mixtures thereof said amount being sufficient to block said low-threshold calcium channels without producing a noticeable blocking effect on high threshold calcium channels. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 10 wherein said alcohols are C 3  -C 10  alkyl alcohols. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12 wherein said central nervous system cells are inferior olivary cells. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12 comprising administering to said mammal a composition comprising said low-threshold calcium channel blocking effective amount of an alcohol selected from the group consisting of C 3  -C 10  alkyl alcohols and mixtures thereof, and a physiologically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13 comprising administering said alcohol orally. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13 comprising administering said alcohol parenterally. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 12 wherein said alcohol is octyl alcohol. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 14 wherein said alcohol is n-octanol. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 12 comprising administering to said mammal a composition comprising said effective amount of said alcohol and a physiologically acceptable carrier or diluent. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19 wherein said composition is a liquid composition and said diluent is selected from the group consisting of Ringer's solution and isotonic saline. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 12 comprising administering to said mammal an amount of said alcohol effective to reduce said tremor to normal or manageable levels.